Allentown Tot May Be Considered For Heart-lung Transplant In Phila.

November 26, 1986|by ANN WLAZELEK, The Morning Call

A 2-year-old Allentown boy was scheduled for surgery in Philadelphia today to determine if he will need a new lung as well as a new heart.

Michael "The Beeper" Caban needs a new heart because of damage believed to have been caused by a virus. He faces the possibility of a double transplant, however, because the enlarged heart has put pressure on his lungs, according to his mother, Patricia.

"His heart is as big as his chest and is doing damage to the blood vessels," she said yesterday. "Although he's on the donor list, surgeons want to do an open lung biopsy to find out what's going on with his lungs first."

She said he was scheduled for the biopsy yesterday, but it was postponed until today.

Michael was in stable condition last night in the cardiac care unit at St. Christopher's Hospital, Philadelphia, where he was admitted Oct. 28.

"To look at him you would never believe he was sick," said his mother, who commutes from Allentown to visit him daily. But she said he has lost a lot of weight, barely talks and tires easily.

"It's a shame he has to suffer so much," she said, adding that her son takes five or six medications a day and has had three catheterizations.

She said she prays every day that he can be helped.

Doctors believe Michael's heart disease began in April, when a viral infection attacked his heart.

His mother said he was having trouble breathing and started to turn blue one day. She rushed him to Allentown Hospital, which arranged for his transfer to Hershey Medical Center. After 1 1/2 weeks at Hershey, he was sent home until his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to St. Christopher's.

If performed, the heart and lung transplant would be the first at St. Christopher's, his mother said.

Mrs. Caban took a leave of absence from her job as a cutting room assorter for Leonard Manufacturing to be with her son. She has three other children, Tammy, 13; Benjamin, 12; and Tiffany, 10, but no medical insurance.

To help defray her travel expenses and other costs not covered by Medical Assistance, Michael's grandparents have started a fund at Merchants Bank. Anyone interested in donating can do so by making checks payable to "The Beeper Fund," in care of Merchants Bank, 153 Tilghman St., Allentown, 18102.